z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Is nicotine replacement therapy overvalued in smoking cessation? Analysis of smokers' and quitters' communication in social media
Author(s) -
Kurko Terhi,
Linden Kari,
Kolstela Maija,
Pietilä Kirsi,
Airaksinen Marja
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1111/hex.12280
Subject(s) - smoking cessation , nicotine replacement therapy , social media , psychology , nicotine , psychotherapist , medicine , clinical psychology , psychiatry , computer science , world wide web , pathology
Background Internet discussion forums provide new, albeit less used data sources for exploring personal experiences of illness and treatment strategies. Objective To gain an understanding of how discussion forum participants value nicotine replacement therapy ( NRT ) in smoking cessation ( SC ). Setting Finnish national Internet‐based discussion forum, STUMPPI , supporting SC and consisting of ten free discussion areas, each with a different focus. The analysis was based on STUMPPI forum participants’ postings ( n  = 24 481) in five discussion areas during January 2007–January 2012. Design Inductive content analysis of the postings concerning NRT use or comparing NRT to other SC methods. Results Three major themes related to NRT in SC emerged from the discussions. These were as follows: (I) distrust and negative attitude towards NRT ; (II) neutral acceptance of NRT as a useful SC method; and (III) trust on the crucial role of NRT and other SC medicines. The negative attitude was related to following perceptions: NRT use maintains tobacco dependence, fear of NRT dependence or experience of not gaining help from NRT use. NRT was perceived to be useful particularly in the initiation of SC attempts and in dealing with physiological dependence. The most highlighted factors of successful quitting were quitters’ own psychological empowerment and peer support from the discussion community. Conclusions The majority of STUMPPI forum participants had low or balanced expectations towards the role of NRT in SC . More research from the smokers’ and quitters’ perspective is needed to assess the real value of NRT compared to other methods in SC .

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here